The Daily Startup: Popexpert to Provide ‘Lifelong Learning’ Online

Offering mediation, yoga and other “lifelong learning” classes online, new startup Popexpert wants to make self realization as convenient as launching a browser. Backed with $2 million from Learn Capital, Jeff Skoll’s Capricorn Investment Group and Paypal co-founder Ken Howery, the San Francisco-based startup is similar in function to the dozen or so other online learning startups that have launched during the past year, but it has a distinct focus. “We are looking at the things that make you better at life, work and play. More EQ [emotional intelligence] than IQ,” said founder and Chief Executive Ingrid Sanders.

Oligomerix hopes to stem a recent flow of bad news from Alzheimer’s disease drugmakers through a new approach that’s gaining currency among pharmaceutical companies. The New York company has raised $2.8 million in Series B financing, including newly issued convertible preferred shares and warrants, from Durand Venture Associates, Wheatley Partners and individuals. Oligomerix develops drugs targeting tau oligomers that are believed to impair learning and memory and to cause the spread of disease in the brain. By neutralizing extracellular tau, the company hopes to improve cognitive function and interrupt Alzheimer’s disease progression.

Also in today’s VentureWire, First Aid Shot Therapy has raised an undisclosed Series A round from new investor Sofinnova Ventures as it gears up to launch a line of over-the-counter medicines served in cans like sports drinks…AlephCloud Systems has raised $7.5 million in Series B funding as it prepares to release its software, which enables companies to enforce IT policies and protect data shared in cloud storage and file-sharing services like Dropbox and Box…and Swipely, a startup aiming to bring the latest business analytics to small businesses while processing their credit card transactions, said it closed a $12 million Series B round led by new investor Shasta Ventures.

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Elsewhere around the Web:

Immigration legislation that includes provisions to allow more highly skilled tech workers into the U.S. is headed for the Senate floor after clearing the Judiciary Committee Tuesday by a 13-5 vote in which three Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the bill.

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